RENO, NV – New food regulations proposed by the Washoe County Health District represent a significant change from the existing regulations adopted over 20 years ago. The proposed regulations will bring the Health District in line with Federal FDA recommendations and are very similar to the State food regulations. Some of the proposed changes include: a new format and look; no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods; changes to Food Manager Certification requirements; and, an overall emphasis on making food establishments responsible for safely handling food. The proposed regulations will be more flexible in accommodating new science, technology, and food handling techniques.

The Washoe County Health District will hold several meetings including workshops and a public hearing to inform the community about proposed amendments to Washoe County’s food regulations. The purpose of the workshops is to provide businesses and individuals affected by these regulation changes additional information and opportunity for input.

Public comment and information collected at the workshops will be considered to develop recommendations for the Washoe County District Board of Health. The board will then be provided a formal notice of the proposed changes and hold a Public Hearing where it will have the opportunity for public input and to take action on the proposed rules.

All meetings, with the exception of the March 12, 2015 meeting, will be held in the South Auditorium of the Washoe County Health District at 1001 E. Ninth Street, Bldg. B, in Reno, Nevada. The March 12, 2015 meeting will be held in the Central Conference Room of the Washoe County Complex at 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building C, in Reno, Nevada.